A small disclaimer before I begin - I am not speaking officially for
Oakstone, this is a personal view, much like Lanthus'. I hope that
perhaps some of the reasoning of Oakstone is made evident in this post,
for this is the view of one citizen at least.


The Dark Order has no authority in the Wood. It can claim whatever it
wishes, but Oakstone jurisdiction remains. Oakstone law is applied
without discrimination. If a Hierophant or Oakstone member breaks it -
they are treated in exactly the same way as any other individual,
despite the fact that Nature is sacred to them, the same goes for
members of Twilight's Order. You are correct in one aspect, Oakstone
does not need the Dark Order's sanction, this is rather clear, Oakstone
law will be upheld with or without your approval. If you wish to protect
the wood, we will not object, nor raise any claims to counter your
presence there, you are quite free to do so provided forest law is not
broken. A rather quick way to resolve the current situation would be if
it was agreed that shrines and totems would simply be placed in the
Darkenwood locations which are not forest, of which there is quite a
few.

Oakstone will not make any agreement with the Order of Twilight which
compromises Oakstone law. Why? Because no matter how sincere your claim
to have only the forest's best interests at heart seems, we have no
substantial evidence to prove that is the case - and even if that
evidence came into existence, there is nothing to prevent you protecting
the forest in accordance with Oakstone law. The fact remains, you are
Twilighters and no matter how loudly you state it, or how many times you
claim that your word is the truth all that we can be certain of is what
we are told by you is what you want us to hear. That the information you
give us is not necessarily fact or fiction, just whatever suits you at
the time.


'It is our Father's child, and as such precious to us. To you, it's just
another forest to feel the righteous protector of. To us, it is a part
of our very substance, our very souls. It is our breathen, for we are
united not by blood but by the essence of Lord Twilight.' - Silverstorm.

Just another forest? No forest is 'just a forest' to Nature's children.
Also a rather bold claim to make when it is considered that Gaia's
essence played just as large a role in the existence of the Darkenwood,
if not larger. The Darkenwood was created by the accumulation of
Twilight's essence over an area of forest, an area which had already
existed and which upon its true birth was brought into being by Gaia
alone. The 'mass of essence' which you have referred to is responsible
for the Darkenwood in its current state, but that is all. It was born of
Nature alone and so it is precious to us both. The presence of
Twilight's essence flowing through it does not alter Oakstone's purpose,
or exempt it from any degree of protection, through Oakstone law.


Screams of extermination? Yes, I do recall those. I would like to take
this moment to inform you that Oakstone jurisdiction extends to gardens.


It is the involvement of your Lord's essence which you have time and
time again referred to as that which makes the Wood sacred to you. The
Shadow Realm is in existence also because of Lord Twilight's essence.
Thus, it is only logical to assume that it too is sacred to you.

Your Order alone is the protector of the natural areas in the Shadow
Realm and yet, those areas have been in the past, and were upon recent
viewing, in a state which is less than satisfactory as far as Oakstone
is concerned. Areas remain barren, stripped of plant life and have been
that way for over ten years now (Unless through unfortunate coincidences
they have been replanted and then stripped again, multiple times).
Locations in your Lord's Gardens and Shadow Grove were stripped of life
by the hands of His Own Order - fires, or perhaps exterminations
damaging your natural areas, which were never returned to their
healthiest of states. This example we have of the way in which
Twilight's Order cares for that which is sacred to them, is unacceptable
to Oakstone. Hence, it cannot entrust the care of the Wood to you and
cannot relax its defenses in any way, simply to allow you to step up
your own.


Oh, I almost forgot..
'I know that every available order member was taking care of the
problem, because the entire Order had been given explicit and firm
orders (for we are a notoriously hierarchial, miltitary, non-dissenting
organization) to do our uttermost for the protection of the Wood.' -
Silverstorm

Seeing as your 'notoriously hierarchial, miltitary, non-dissenting
organization' has been appropriately instructed about the protection of
the Wood, I can only assume that the following is further proof that
your protection is unsatisfactory. After the recent fires were
extinguished Oakstone, Druids and Sentinels set about the job of
replanting, as you're well aware. Daystar made reports, to both Oakstone
and Twilight's Order, of Darkenwood locations which had been stripped of
plant life by the fires. After no comment was made by the Twilighters,
Daystar went ahead and began to replant. After a single location had
been replenished he was informed by Ravenwolf that the locations in
question were left unplanted by the commands of his Order. Daystar
requested an explanation as to why this strange order had been given.
And the reply that came from your 'notoriously hierarchial, miltitary,
non-dissenting organization' -

"Why should I tell one _not_ involved or important enough to be included
in the forest's upkeep? The only persons who should be overly concerned
are to be included in the Council of Upkeep." - Ravenwolf.

And yet you claim that you would not interfere with the protection and
tending of the area. You certainly must have an interesting concept of
protection, and aid of a very strange kind. You claim that you wish to
work alongside Oakstone to ensure the Darkenwood is protected as well as
possible and yet here we see disregard for both replanting and dealings
with the Organization with which you wish to work.


Oakstone shall ensure the safety of the Darkenwood. The Order of
Twilight is more than welcome to do so in accordance with the Oakstone
Charter, I am sure your assistance in any patrols, reportings of
overharvests or incidents which conflict with the Oakstone laws would be
appreciated.


Elsp Le'Yuet.


Penned by my hand on the 14th of Glacian, in the year 310 AF.